Grain-loader.



Patented May l3, |902.'

8.1. SLE'NKEB.

GRAIN LOADER.

aApplicawlon filed. May 24. P900.)

(No Model.)

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UNrrE-n STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

BENJAMIN F. SEENKER, OFPANOLA, ILLINOIS.

' GRA-IN- LIOA DER.

' smmcmon'maa part f Letters Patent No, 700,097, dated May 13, 1902Application filed May 24, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN SLENKER, a citizenjof the United States,residingat' nola, in the county'of Woodford and State of Illinois,haveinfven'ted certain new and use-E fullmprovements inGraiu-Loaders, 9fwhich the followinglisa specification railway-cars, and has for itsobject to accomplish such a result in an expeditious, economical,andconvenient manner and in which the grain can be loaded into the car in asatisfactory manner at a minimum of time, labor, and expense.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and fully pointed out in the claims following thedescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart.

of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofmyi improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a'detailyiew, in front elevation, ofthe portable grain-discharging device. Fig. 3 is a top'plan' View of thedriving-gearing. .Fig. 4: is an end elevation of the fan, and Fig. 5 isa detail View of a part of the same.

Referring-to:the drawings, the numerall indicates the side wall of apart of a building in which the grain is supposed to be stored, and'2 abracket fixed'to saidwall and pro-.

vided with a bearing 3, inwhich is jo'urnaled a shaft 4, that may bedriven from any suit able source of power, preferably located inside thebuilding. On the shaft 4. is fixed a beveled gear-wheel 5, and looselyjournaled or sleeved on said shaft is a fra me 6, in which. is journaledone endof'ashaft 7, on which isfixed a beveled pinion S, that gears withthe beveled wheel 5. To the end of the shaft 7 is connected, by meansof' a universal coupling Q'Ofordinary and well-known construction,'ashaft 10, the other end of which shaft Serial rema n. (No model.)

. endsof legs or supportsl5, between which the'casin'g may be tilted. Onthe opposite sides offthe casing are formed angularly-disposedlaterally-extending flanges 15', separated to an extent somewhat greaterthan the distancebetween the opposite sides of the p H legs andforming'fixed limits'ofmovement for This invention relates to novelmeans for loading grain from agrain-storage houseinto the tiltingadjustment of'the casing. The casing carries a lOtl 14,extending outthrough a slot16 in each of. the angular connecting' fan comprising ahub 17, provided with a plurality of radialarrns 18, to the oppositesides of the outer ends of which are clamped fanblades 119,-the purposeof the double arrangement of fan-bladesoneach arm being-to make bothsidesof the fan alike, whereby the 0p- -eration'willbe the sameirrespectiveof the direction-in which the fan is run. The bot- .tom ofthe casing is curved, as shown, and in the lower side of each endthereof is formed a discharge opening 20, adapted to be closed ;.by asliding'cover 21. In one side of the easing, near'its opposite ends andupper edge, areformed'two feed-openings 22 and 23, and between andcommonto both is a swinging cover 24, the arrangement being such that thecover may be turned to close either of the feed-openings and open theother.

The operation of m'yimproved device is as 'follows The'carto be loadedis run up'along side the building and the casing and its supports arearranged in the car. The grainspout (shown inFig. 1' bydotted lines) isinserted in one of the feed-openings and the other is closed by thecover 24. Let it be assumed that-the spout is inserted in the open ing22 and that the opening 23 is closed. The discharge-opening 20 on theleft or adjacent to the opening 22 will be opened, and the correspondingfeed-opening at the opposite end of the casing will be closed. Thedriving mechanism will then be put into operation to rotate the fan inthe direction of the hands of a clock, and the grain willlbe rapidlyfand.Qforcibly discharged to the left of the machine and to the end of thecar. By placing the spout in the opening 23- an'dclosing. the'opening22, closing the discharge-opening on the left and opening that on theright, and reversing the direction of rotation of the fan the grain willin like manner be discharged to the right or to the other end of thecar. 13y tilting the casing, as shown, the vertical height of dischargeof the grain may be altered or adjusted to gradually throw the grainhigher as the car fills up, the casing being tilted to any desired angleand locked in its adjusted position by the thumb -screw 16. Bymeans ofproviding the shaft 10 with universal couplings, as shown, the casingmay be freely moved about, as desired, without disturbing the drivingmechanism.

As shown, the bracket 6 may be freely rotated or swung about the shaft4, and to the side of the building is connected one end of a rod 25, theother end of which is provided with a hook which may be hooked into alug 26 on the bracket-arm, and thus hold the latter horizontal inoperative position. By unhooking the rod the gearing may be permitted todrop down alongside of the building when the device is not in use,whereby it will be out of the way of the cars.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination in agrain-loader, of a portable support, a casing arranged thereon andadapted for tilting adjustment to vary the height of its discharge, saidcasing being provided with a curved or concaved bottom and havingdischarge-openings at its opposite ends, means for independently closingsaid openings, the side of the casing being provided with twograin-inlet openings, apivoted cover for closing either of saidopenings,and a reversible rotary fan mounted in said casin 2. Thecombination in a grain-loader, of a portable support, a shaft mounted inbearings thereon, a casing carried by the shaft and adapted for tiltingadjustment, a locking-rod carried by the casing and adapted to slots inthe support said casing having dischargeopenings at each end, means forindependently closing said openings, the side of the casing beingprovided with two grain-inlet openings, means for closing said openings,and a reversible rotary fan in said casing,substantially as specified.

3. The combination in a grain-loader, of a portable casing provided witha dischargeopening, a fan therein, a bracket hinged to a fixed support,a rod detachably connected to the bracket and adapted to support thesame in position, driving-gearing in part supported by the bracket, apower-transmitting shaft connected by universal couplings to thedriving-gearing and to the fan-shaft, the arrangement being such thatwhen the bracket is released the driving mechanism will fall by gravityvertically alongside the fixed support.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two'witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. SLENKER.

Witnesses:

HENRY Knrsnn, Sam WELTY.

